Holiday park site fees explained

What is a site fee?

When you buy a static caravan or lodge, you own the home but not the land under it. The site fee, also called a pitch fee, is the yearly rent you pay the park for your pitch and for the upkeep of the park around it. You pay it every year for as long as you keep the home there.

What does it usually cover?

A site fee normally pays for the pitch itself, maintenance of roads and grounds, park lighting and security, and your use of the shared facilities. What counts as a shared facility varies. On some parks the pool and clubhouse are included; on others you pay for passes.

How much are site fees?

Fees vary widely with the park's location, facilities and season length. As a rough guide, many UK parks charge between £3,000 and £7,000 a year, and premium coastal or lodge parks can charge more. Always ask for the current year's figure in writing.

What's charged on top?

The site fee is rarely the whole cost. Ask each park about:

• Gas, electricity and water, which are usually billed separately.
• Local authority rates.
• Insurance for the home, which most parks require.
• Winter drain-down and reconnection, if the park closes for part of the year.
• Facility or entertainment passes for you and your guests.

Do site fees go up?

Yes, usually every year. Your licence agreement should say how increases are worked out and how much notice the park must give. Ask what the increases have been over the last three years.

Questions to ask before you buy

1. What is this year's site fee for this pitch, and when is it due?
2. How have fees changed in each of the last three years?
3. What is charged on top of the site fee?
4. How long is the licence, and what happens when it ends?
5. Is there an age limit on homes, and what happens when mine reaches it?